The zesty kick of Nicaraguan salsa now available at Miles Farmers Market

By Laura Briedis

Cleveland has always been a melting pot of cultures, which has afforded us some of the most varied and tastiest food found anywhere in the country. Now you can add Nicaraguan salsa to that list.

The latest product at Miles Farmers Market, La Nica Home Style Salsa is the creation of Heidi and Tim Helms. Like many local businesses, it started as a labor of love in the couple’s Strongsville kitchen and now has grown into a full-fledged business.

Born in Nicaragua and raised in California, Heidi has perfected her grandmother’s recipe—with a couple tweaks to make it her own.

“After moving to Ohio, back to my husband’s hometown, I wanted to share a little of my culture,” Heidi says. “Nicaraguan salsa has its own flavor and is different than typical Mexican salsa.”

“Though it has many of the same ingredients, such as tomatoes, cilantro, garlic and onions, the secret ingredient is the way I make it. I don’t use any sugar or water, but rely on fresh ingredients for the best taste. It is a clean, honest salsa.”

Available in three varieties—mild, medium, and en fuego—the base recipe is the same for all three, but more peppers are added when going from mild to hot. Bringing on the heat are jalapenos, chile pequin and ghost peppers.

“Our salsa is not just for chips. You can use it for crockpot meals, marinades and even on pizzas,” Heidi says. “I encourage you to cook with salsa to add flavor to your meals.”

Miles Farmers Market is located at 28560 Miles Road, in Solon. For details, call 440-248-5222 or visit MilesFarmersMarket.com.